How do I know those pop-up notices titled "Updates Available" are genuinely from Apple? They look incredible easy to counterfeit, and that they never say what the update actually is makes them especially suspicious-looking.
MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)
In a reply you must not have seen yet, I said "That looks legit, but I would never update from the popup, I always go directly to the App Store. There's no reason not to, it's only an extra two clicks, and delivers total safety."
Go to the App Store and see if there are any updates. If so, the notification is probably legit. Run the update from the App Store. The notice should go away (you may have to restart).
And no, the vast majority of us don't work for Apple. There are some Community Specialists who reply periodically, but that will show up next to their name.
These are scams and should be ignored
1. Identify and report phishing emails and other suspicious messages: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759
2. Annual Reminder- Watch out for email Phishing Scams: https://blog.macsales.com/40094-an-annual-reminder-watch-out-for-phishing-scams? utm_source=xlr8yourmac
3. Identifying fraudulent "phishing" email: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759
4. Beware of Browser Pop-Up Tech Support, Phishing Scams: http://blog.macsales.com/29155-beware-of-browser-pop-up-tech-support-phishing-sc ams
5. Phishing & Other Suspicious Emails: http://www.apple.com/legal/more-resources/phishing/
6. Avoid phishing emails, fake 'virus' alerts, phony support calls, & other scams: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204759
● If you receive what you believe to be a phishing email that's designed to look like it’s from Apple, please send it to reportphishing@apple.com.
â—Ź To report spam or other suspicious emails that you receive in your iCloud.com, me.com, or mac.com Inbox, please send them to abuse@icloud.com.
â—Ź To report spam or other suspicious messages that you receive through iMessage, tap Report Junk under the message, or take a screenshot on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac and send it to imessage.spam@apple.com.
â—Ź If you receive a suspicious message about your purchase activity in the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store, contact iTunes Support.
Hi,
Go to the Apple menu > App Store > Updates. Those are the only valid Apple updates for your Mac and the only ones you should install. For any other updates, such as Flash, if you use it, go directly to the site; don't ever click on a popup saying you need to update.
So this popup IS a fake? I was always suspicious due to no actual Apple logo and no explanation of what the update entailed. Any idea how I can get rid of it?
If it isn't a fake, they why the bleedin' heck don't they include a link to the App Store? [Rhetorical question; I assume you don't actually work for Apple!}
Thanks, but these aren't emails; as I said, they are updates notifications. They pop up and look like this:
The only updates from Apple are in the app store. All of those web notifications are spam and will infect your computer with malware and adware.
It looks like a notification from App store. Looks legit.
That looks legit, but I would never update from the popup, I always go directly to the App Store. There's no reason not to, it's only an extra two clicks, and delivers total safety.
Thank you, tjk; I will do this next time it pops up. 🙂
(Why Apple doesn't just have it a link to where you can download it is another question, grrr...)
You're welcome. 🙂
There are no links for Mac software updates!
All software updates for Mac are performed via the Mac App Store App!
Fake "Updates Available"?
